At least one Philadelphia big man was always going to be traded before Thursday’s deadline, but it still came as a bit of shock to see that it was Nerlens Noel moved first. He ends up in Dallas, per a report from Yahoo Sports, in a deal centered around a protected first-round pick and young wing Justin Anderson.
The deal clears up the glut in Philadelphia’s frontcourt a bit, and gives the Mavericks a young defensive stalwart to slot in next to Dirk Nowitzki moving forward. Coupled with the 76ers’ decision to move Ersan Ilyasova to the Hawks, Philadelphia’s frontcourt looks quite a bit different than it did a few days ago. Let’s dive into the Fantasy implications for the 76ers’ pair of moves so far.
Dallas receives Nerlens Noel
The Mavericks moved Andrew Bogut and Justin Anderson in the deal, but with the pick they sent to Philadelphia reportedly protected for the top-18 picks, they really didn’t give up much. And in return, they get a young big man who could be a perfect complement for an aging Dirk Nowitzki.
The Mavericks have recovered from an abysmal start to the season, largely by relying on lineups featuring Nowitzki at center and Harrison Barnes at power forward. This move will likely cause them to change that plan, but Noel is the kind of talent who could be worth it.
Things have gone sideways over the past year or so, but let’s not forget that Noel was considered a third- or fourth-round Fantasy talent at the start of last season. He isn’t much of an offensive force, but his defensive abilities are what make him stand out. Given Dallas’ construction, he should be allowed to shine there.
Even while dealing with an awkward fit in Philadelphia next to Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor and knee injuries that delayed the start of his season, we’ve still gotten glimpses of what kind of player Noel can be this season. He is averaging just 19.4 minutes per game, but his per-36 averages show he can be an elite Fantasy option: 16.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocks. For his career, Noel has averaged 4.2 blocks and steals per-36 minutes, and could become just the third player since 1979-80 to average 2.0 blocks and steals per game in a larger role.
That alone could make him a must-start option in Rotisserie leagues, and the points and rebounding volume he is likely to see near 30 minutes per game would make him a viable option in points leagues as well.
He shouldn’t have much issue finding a big role in Dallas, either. Their frontcourt rotation is filled with part-time role players, and with Noel headed for a big payday as a restricted free agent this offseason, you have to imagine Dallas traded for him with the intention of making him a long-term piece. Nowitzki at center isn’t a long-term answer at this point in his career, and neither he nor Barnes should have a problem sliding down the positional hierarchy to make room for Noel. He figures to be a perfect complement to Nowitzki, an athletic rim-running big man who can hang out on the baseline to duck in for putbacks and dunks when Nowitzki is featured in the pick and role.
Noel is already owned in 84 percent of CBSSports.com leagues, a number that should go up to 100 in the wake of this trade. He should be viewed as a starting caliber center in all formats, a nice outcome for those of you who have been stashing him.
Atlanta receives Ersan Ilyasova
Ilyasova has been a surprisingly dependable option for both the 76ers and Fantasy players this season, as his shooting ability made him an ideal sidekick for Joel Embiid. That was never going to be a long-term option, so it comes as little surprise that they opted to move him to Atlanta at the deadline.
Consistency has been an issue for Ilyasova throughout his career, but he averaged between 12.3 and 16.7 points per game for the 76ers, providing much-needed floor spacing in what can be a cramped offense. However, he slowed down in February, and was already bordering on droppable; this trade just confirms it.
The Hawks are pretty much set at power forward with Paul Millsap, so Ilyasova will step into a reserve role, providing shooting off the bench. That has value for the Hawks, but not so much for Fantasy players, who can drop him pretty much across the board.
76ers receive Justin Anderson, Tiago Splitter, Andrew Bogut, picks
That’s an uninspiring group of names, with Splitter and Bogut in particular candidates to be moved elsewhere, either at the deadline or in buyouts. Anderson could get some run in Philly, but he’s already 23 and hasn’t shown much propensity for playmaking or shooting, so he hardly looks like a long-term piece. Still, he was a recent first-rounder, and we’ve seen players thrive in larger roles in Philadelphia, so keep an eye on him.
Still, these trades are much more about what remains in Philadelphia than anything else. With a few hours still to go before the deadline, Jahlil Okafor’s status is up in the air, but there is one big winner in all of this -- rookie Dario Saric.
Saric has mostly come off the bench this season, and has struggled more than many likely expected, given his pedigree and professional experience in Europe. However, he has shown incredible flashes as a passer all season long and, in recent weeks has started to put it all together.
In the month of February, Saric has averaged 16.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 28.2 minutes per game, and had clearly made Ilyasova even more expendable than ever. He has improved his shooting from the field to 44.0 percent, a big improvement over his year-long numbers, however his 30.6 percent mark on 3-pointers still leaves something to be desired.
With Ilyasova and Noel out of the picture, Saric is free to play 30 minutes every night, and that should be the expectation moving forward. He is owned in 86 percent of CBSSports.com leagues, a number that should go up to 100 before long.
There is one thing to keep in mind moving forward, however, and that is the potential return of Ben Simmons from his foot injury. He has yet to be declared fully healthy, and there remains a pretty decent chance we never see him this season, but he could potentially cut into Saric’s opportunities. Keep an eye on Simmons’ progress -- he is expected to receive an update on his recovery in the coming days -- though the 76ers could easily play both together, with Simmons handling point guard duties on offense and defending small forwards on the other side.
The 76ers’ perpetual youth movement continues, but with Embiid around and Saric starting to show signs, the present is starting to look as bright as the future.
Lakers trade Lou Williams to Rockets
Williams is having a sneaky incredible season so far, putting up 27.7 points per-36 minutes, largely off the bench for the Lakers. Behind a constant series of trips to the free-throw line and a 38.6 percent mark from 3-point range, he has been a model of efficiency in running the second unit, and should be a terrific fit for the Rockets’ offensive philosophy.
Of course, the question here is whether he’ll be the same guy in Houston. The good news is, he was Fantasy relevant in just under 25 minutes per game in Los Angeles. However, that was on a team that didn’t already have James Harden, a superstar who plays huge minutes and could render Williams a bit redundant. Absent a trade of Patrick Beverley, Williams is likely to see a pretty serious reduction in his role in Houston, and is a loser at the deadline, even if he is likely to continue scoring and shooting enough to remain Fantasy relevant.
Jordan Clarkson figures to be a winner for the Lakers. Williams had superceded him as the primary option in the second unit, leading to a disappointing showing so far. Clarkson’s numbers have dipped across the board, to 13.7 points and 2.1 assists in 27.4 minutes per game. Clarkson should get more opportunities to create for himself and others, and is worth adding in the 22 percent of CBSSports.com leagues where he is available.
Nets trade Bojan Bogdanovic to Wizards
Bogdanovic has been a reliable contributor all season, and has been consistently underowned in a season where he is averaging 14.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Those aren’t great numbers, but at just 57 percent owned heading into the All-Star break, has been someone worth adding whenever you have needed help.
That ends with this move. He fills a need for shooting off the bench for the Wizards, but he isn’t likely to get too many opportunities in his new digs. The Wizards have one of the best starting lineups in the league, and rely on that group as heavily as anyone, with all five averaging at least 32 minutes per game. No player on the Wizards’ bench has averaged more than 6.4 shots per game, so Bogdanovic is unlikely to contribute much more than a few 3-pointers and scoring totals in the single digits on most nights. He can be safely dropped across the board.
What will be more interesting here is who steps up for the Nets. They have youth, but remain painfully short of talent, making it hard to predict who will take advantage of Bogdanovic’s departure. Your best bet is likely to look at the few recent first rounders on the roster, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (30 percent) and Caris LeVert (22 percent) both of whom are widely available. If you need an end-of-bench option with some upside, both should provide that. Andrew Nicholson could also get some run for the Nets, after being included in the deal, though you’ll want to see him actually show something before looking his way.
Bulls trade Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott to Thunder for Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne, Anthony Morrow
This isn’t a move that will have many Fantasy implications, at least as things stand now. Gibson gives the Thunder a reliable third big who can play next to either Steven Adams or Enes Kanter, and McDermott will provide some much-needed shooting for a team that has never had enough of it. However, it’s hard to see either improving their value in Oklahoma City, given the presence of incumbents likely to see more minutes.
Gibson has been a useful low-end Fantasy starter in Chicago, but this looks like a downgrade, especially with Kanter likely to return from his forearm injury in the next few days.
Chicago doesn’t look like it’s getting much either. Payne has the skill set and pedigree to eventually turn into a useful Fantasy option, but as just a 31.9 percent 3-point shooter in his NBA career, it’s hard to see him distinguishing himself in a point guard rotation that already features Rajon Rondo and Michael Carter-Williams. Lauvergne could figure into the Bulls’ frontcourt rotation, but hasn’t shown enough to be on Fantasy radars.
The player to keep an eye on here might be Nikola Mirotic. Long rumored to be a trade candidate, Mirotic ended up staying put in Chicago, and seems likely to step into the starting lineup next to Robin Lopez in the frontcourt. His career has stalled out since a promising rookie season, as Mirotic is shooting just 38.1 percent from the field and 29.9 percent on 3-pointers this season but could thrive in a full-time role as a stretch power forward. If you are looking for a winner in this trade, he’s the best candidate.
Raptors trade for P.J. Tucker for Jared Sullinger
With his solid rebounding from the wings and ability to hit 3-pointers, Tucker has been a sneaky-useful Fantasy option at times in his career, especially in Rotisserie leagues. However, even when he averaged 30-plus MPG in three straight seasons for the Suns, Tucker never even reached double figures in scoring average, relying on volume in secondary categories to provide value. He won’t get them in Toronto, with DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry soaking up possessions and Norman Powell and DeMarre Carroll holding things down at small forward. Tucker loses most of whatever value he had.
Sullinger was an interesting Fantasy option as recently as last season, but he is shooting just 31.3 percent from the field and just hasn’t found his footing since missing the first few months of the season with a foot injury. With their eyes on developing young big men like Marquese Chriss, Alex Len, and Dragan Bender, it’s hard to see Sullinger getting much playing time in Phoenix. In all likelihood, he remains irrelevant for Fantasy.
